Henry f



H. F. BECHMAN.

BENDING MATRICE'S. APPLICATION m50 JULY l2. |915.

III l l Il G l i l """lllnmllml this specification.

HENRY F. BECI-IMAN, OFBATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, ASSIG-NOR TO DUPLEX PRINTING FIC.

PRESS COMPANY, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN, CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

Speeication of Letters Patent.

BENDING MATRIGES.

Patented oet. e, 191e.

Application i'iled .Tuly 12, 1915. Serial No. 39,450.

To all whom t may concern.' y

- Be it known that I, HENRY F. BECHMAN,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Battle Creelnin the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain tion thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of This invention relates to the art of stereotyping andv its object is to preliminarily be'nd or kcurve the matrices before they are i placed in the casting boxes preparatory to "casting a plate so that when such matrices are placed in the casting boxes they will vention includes a novel process of bending such matrices and also novel apparatus for bending same.

The novel process of bending the matrices consists essentially in placing the matrix between two flexiblesheets or surfaces which are then rolled up,ipreferably bywrapping fsame around a core orcylinder, so that the matrix is bent or curved by and between such' surfaces to approximately the shape of theplate to be castA therefrom without the matrix being broken, crumpled or injured; and when such bent matrix is afterward placed in a casting` box it will readily conform to the curvature of the casting box y without buckling or cracking.

In carrying out such process I preferably use two or more flexible metallic sheets between which the matrix to be bent is placed,

such sheets then lying flat upon a Isurface V or table; and afterv the matrix is placed therebetween the [sheets and matrix are wrapped around a cylinder,thereb`y bending the matrix and imparting approximately the desired curvature thereto. The

` sheets and matrix may then be unrolled and the matrix removed. therefrom ready for insertion in thelcasting box. j Y

The invention will be further explained with reference to the accompanying draw` ings,iand I have epitomized in the claims .f the essentials of the invention yfer which protection is desired.

' In said drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine for bending matrices in accordance with my process, showing in full lines the parts in position preparatory to rolling and bending the matrix.

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts 1n position with the matrix bent.

As shown in the drawings the machine comprises a table A which is preferably flat and is supported upon a suitable frame or standard B. Mounted to roll upon the table A is a cylinder C which is provided with trunnions it at its ends pivotally connected by links F to the upper ends of levers E which are mounted upon arock shaft D journaled in the frame B below the table, and which rock shaft carries a treadle I which so as to rock shaft D and cause levers E to roll cylinder C across the table from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2. The levers E and cylinder C may be returned to normal position by means of suitable springs J connected with levers E and frame B, the levers B being arrested by stops R when the cylinder is returned to normalV position. The

cylinder C may be held down with any deber blanket LV above the sheet N; these sheets are superposed as `shown in Fig. 1 and preferably may be connected at their rear edges to the periphery of cylinder C by any suitable means, so that as cylinder C is rolled forward over these sheets they will be wrapped around the periphery of such cylinder as indicated in Fig. 2.

The flat matrix Y X constructed in the usual manner, is placed between the sheets N and O, while the cylinder is in the retracted position shown in Fig. 1. By lifting sheet NV and blanketL to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 the matrix 4can be readily positioned upon sheet O, then sheet N and blanket L are lowered thereupon. Then the operator depressee crossed the treadle I and by so doing causes cylinder C to ioll forwaid over the table andin so doing the sheets N and O with the in- `closed matrix therebetween are rolled around the casting box imparts to it a degree of flexibility which enables it to readily conform to the curvature of the casting box when placed therein, and prevents the matrix buckling or cracking when inserted in such casting box, and insures perfect and uniform plates being produced when cast from such matrix, and avoids many troubles and annoyances which arise in casting plates from matrices as ordinarily used, such matrices not being previously bent or flexed are apt to bulge or crack or not conform properly to the casting box, resulting in producing unequal imperfect plates which cause great annoyance and delay in getting out the publication..

The inside sheet of smooth hard surfaced metal flexing with the matrix and outer v The invention is equally well adapted for use in bending matrices for either semicylindric plates or for tubular plates, and is particularly useful in connection with matrices made from very open forms. lt will be obvious that the novel process could be performed entirely by hand, by manually wrapping or rolling the matrix, as by placing the matrix between two sheets and then rolling up the sheets and matrix upon each other, or upon a roller or core. The novel machine shown enables the process to be performed quickly and efficiently, but when the invention is once known it will be easy to devise other machines for carrying out the process, and I therefore do not consider the invention mechanically'restricted to the particular mechanism herein illustrated, al- -though such mechanism is a practical and --eflicient apparatus for bending matrices.

sheet is the only means that has been found l metallic sheets connected with the member to avoid the matrix kiiiking or breaking especially where rules have made indentations crosswise of the matrix forming possible breaking points. A fine line of type will create the same kind of a line across the matrix, and also often cause the matrix to break or kink when placed in the box,

unless the matrix is my method.

Experience has shown that a matrix curved around the cylinder under outside pressure will not naturally uniformly bend, but will have a tendency to break sharply at points where rules or thin lines have it. When placed between two preliminarily beni-J lby What I claim is:

1. A machine for bendinuplates comprisy ing a table, apair of flexib e metallic sheets mounted thereon, blankets above and below the metallic sheets, said metallic sheets being adapted to receive a matrix between them; a cylinder, and means for rolling up the sheets with the matrix between them upon the cylinder.

2. A machine for bending matrices comprising a movable member, apair of flexible and adapted to receive a matrix between them, resilient sheets above and below the metallic sheets, and means for operating said member to roll up the sheets with the matrix between them.

3. The herein described process of bending matrices consisting in first-placing the flat matrix between separate sheets of suitable fiexible hard surfaced material, and then bending the sheets and interposed matrix together around a form approximately sheets of flexible hard material which hold' the matrix firmly between them and curve fectly.

The metal sheets tend to flatten out when unwrapped, but owing to their thiiiness do i not have any injurious effect upon the bent. matrix therebetween, and such matrix is removed from between the sheets after bending. A matrix having been treated by my process, in the manner described, ev'en if subsequently somewhat flattened will tend conforming to the curvature of the box in -which the matrix is to be used.

tween lwhich sheets the matrix is placed;

to assume its curved condition; and when ture of the box without breaking, crack.

ing or' angularly bending.

and .means for rolling said cylinder over the support to simultaneously wrap the sheets and interposed matrix around the cylinder.

6. A machine for bending matrices comprising a movable member, a pair ofV separate smooth flexible metallic sheets connected with the member and adapted to re- Vceive a matrix between. them, resilient sheets above and below the metallic sheets, and means for operating said member to roll up the sheets with the interposed matrix between them.

7. A machine for bending matrices comprising a table, a pair of flexible metallic sheets adapted to receive a matrix between them, resilient sheets above and below the metallic sheets, and reciprocatory means connected with the table for rolling up the sheets with the matrix between them.

8. A machine for bending matrices comprising a table, a reciprocatory cylinder, a pair of flexible hard surfaced sheets connected with said cylinder between which the matrix to be bentI is placed, and means for moving said cylinder on the table to wrap the sheets and the inclosed matrix around the cylinder and bend the matrix, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I ax my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY F. BECHMAN.

Witnesses:

CHARLEs A. GRAMES, IRVING K. STONE.

' Copies of this-patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner ot Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

